[Liz and Paul]

Hi Kevin & Sarah,

Kids tend to start school about 6 months older than in UK and in Queensland that first year is optional!! our son is 5 1/2 and just started in Year 1, he's had about 6 months extra schooling at least to those here (prep is the optional year).

We have been visiting nursery's for our youngest this week, childcare is available here from about 6 months old to 5 years and we have found it lots cheaper than what we were paying at home. When you are working parents here you are enitlted to family benefit - if you are permanent residents - and depending on your income you get a reduction in costs - it will cost us approx 15 pound a day instead of 32 which is what we were paying at home. What is also good (for us) is that the nursery also does before and after school care for primary aged children so we will drop our oldest off at the same nursery, they take him to school in a minibus and pick him up at end of day. The nursery is open 6.30am to 6.30pm which is typically of most nurserys here and there's lots of childcare centres to choose from.

Liz